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Las Vegas salutes veterans in downtown parade
Annual event draws thousands in support of military
Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Alexis Gaskin, 9, holds a sign in support of her family while sitting with her grandfather, Doug Weens, as they watch the annual Veterans Day parade Wednesday in downtown Las Vegas. Weens’ son and son-in-law are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 | 3:57 p.m.
Veterans Day Parade
Veterans were just a few of the hundreds of people who participated in the parade, which spanned almost three hours and worked its way down Fourth Street from Gass Avenue to Stewart Avenue. More than 100 organizations took part in the event.
Many of the veterans in Wednesday’s downtown Las Vegas parade walked the route while others rode in floats or drove their motorcycles.
But for some veterans, the mile-long route was traversed in a wheelchair or special bicycle made for those scarred by war.
A number of organizations for veterans and their families participated in the annual parade, including some from other states. More than 100 organizations took part in the event.
Veterans were just a few of the hundreds of people who participated in the parade, which spanned almost three hours and worked its way down Fourth Street from Gass Avenue to Stewart Avenue.
There were boy and girl scouts, marching bands, current members of the military and hundreds of Junior ROTC cadets from local high schools.
Kathy Nicolai said seeing the cadets was the best part.
“It’s amazing the number of kids in the high school programs. The ROTC programs here are better than anywhere else in the country,” she said. “Whether those kids go into the military or not, they learn discipline and we need more of that.”
Nicolai watched the parade while standing on a curb near the main stage where groups would stop and salute wounded soldiers who watched the event.
Her husband, David Nicolai, served in the Navy in the 1960s and said even though Las Vegas isn’t normally associated with the military, it does a good job of supporting the troops on Veterans Day.
“It’s the best parade in the country,” he said. “With Nellis here, why not do it?”
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and his wife, Carolyn, walked at the beginning of the parade with the City Council and North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck.
“What a privilege it is for us to have this unbelievable parade honoring the men and women of our armed forces and telling them how much we appreciate the sacrifices they have made for us,” Mayor Goodman said.
Due to a leg injury, retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Bob Freeman, who has received many purple hearts, sits on a bench waiting to join the Chapter Military Order of Purple Hearts in their march in the Veterans Day parade Wednesday in downtown Las Vegas.
Luke Jackson walked in the parade with the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a leadership-training program for youth ages 11 to 17.
Jackson, who eventually wants to join the Navy or Marine Corps, said participating in the parade was a way to “show this country’s respect for the people who fight and die for it.”
The Navy program has made him appreciate veterans more than he did before, Jackson said.
“It showed me that the military is one of the most important aspects of our country,” he said. “It keeps our way of life in tact and allows us to do what we do on a daily basis.”
Glenn Suiter, who served in the 160th Armed Cavalry, said he was pleased with the parade’s turnout.
“What I think is incredible about it is all the locals and visitors who come here and support our troops,” he said.
Discussion: 12 comments so far…
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I wonder how many homeless veterans were arrested and thrown in jail in order for the parade to appear "Thankful" and "Sincere" on veteran issues.
it's sad that liberals hate these brave men and women.
two cheery comments - I believe neither to be - perhaps the world will still go round despite the misappropriation of this space!
You're welcome little girl, not everyone gets paid to hunt humans with such bestowed honor and glory -- a license to kill while proudly parading our souls around as if they were civilized.
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Shame on you stevem. Liberals don't hate these veterans. Objecting to a war does not mean hating the men and women who fight. The people I know who are against the wars in Iran and Afghanistan always make that clear.
Your comment was despicable.
As for me: Thank you Veterans, and thank you to those who are serving now! Thank you every day of the year!
It's sad that conservatives have to drag their children around to hold signs expressing their viewpoints. One can still support the troops even if they do not support the cause.
Harley
Really?
my comment was the truth. the muslim terrorist that killed our soldiers at ft. hood should have been kicked out years ago.
but, the limp-wristed liberals in this country have made it impossible for us to protect ourselves from those animals.
So you're actually trying to say that liberals hate soldiers so much that they wanted soldiers to die at Fort Hood? stevem, you are sicker than I realized. I think you just lost all credibility. Nobody can take you seriously when you spout hate-filled, twisted, mindless nonsense like that. Go back to shooting at the pink elsphants hovering over your bathtub, and fighting off the men from mars trying to plant electrodes in your teeth.
yes, i think liberals in general hate our troops. if you think we should NOT kill every muslim terrorist BEFORE they kill more of us, you're a liberal and you need to leave our country.
when your messiah, obama says "we shouldn't rush to judge" this animal that killed our troops, even though it was clearly terrorism, and you'd STILL vote for obama...you should hang your head in shame.
...and I'm sure you have the names and addresses of every muslim terrorist, and that your judgement is infallible.
Will your friend Bigfoot be guiding your enemies out of the country?
I'm sorry stevem, but at this point, I'd only read your comments for comedic value. Bizarre, divisive hate speech serves no useful purpose.
Don't worry, you won't have to worry about any further responses from me. If all you want to do is to insult large groups of people with horrible twisted hate speech which is completely untrue, based on your fantasy world view, you're just not worth it.
One final note, though. I voted for McCain. I support what we're doing in Afghanistan. I just refuse to demonize people who disagree with that position and who exercise the rights and freedoms that this country stands for.
Gee, stevem making a bad assumption. Has that ever happened before?